AN AMERICAN FASTING GIRL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN AMERICAN FASTING GIRL.

AnabklLangan, the nine-year old Wisconsin girl who a short time ago became known because oi her long and voluntary fast, is reported to be in Minneapolis. She is qnitc healthy, though she bae not yet acquired a normal appetite. Her mother gives the following account of her fasting:—Last January Anabel began to lose appetite, and gradually discarded the use of food. At first she gave up tea and coffee ; then she stopped eating meat and vegetables ; and finally milk and iruit were discarded. During her long fast b)io virtually lived on air. She drank water in great quautitiea, and inhaled the ntmosphert) with much satisfaction. She became dreamy and slightly preoccupied, but did not decline in health. Her cheeks became more pale, but ulie was not reduced in weight to nay extent. She delighted to roam in the open air, and always returned from a ride aa gay as a lark. She had such a longing lor the fields and woods that it was a trial to her when night came. To people who saw her and said she was not well, she would say, "J am all right. I can't die so long an 1 urn not hungry, and i am not hungry yet." She win at this time under the cere of Dr. Overpeck. By hie direction she was regularly bathed in milk and olive oil. Every device was resorted to stimulate a taste for food. Dainties were temptingly exposed, but she rejected them all alike. On tho n'fty-third day she waa seen to nibble a crumb of bread. Krom that time she began to gradually recover liar appetite. Sin began with the same things that sho left off on ; but even now sho will not eat meat. During the fifty-three daye she lost ten pounds only. Mm now has a ruddy skin, and shows no symptoms of ill-health. She atill delights in the open air. The fact that she suffered no pain or inconveuience whatever makes it hard co understand her case.